Gaeet a



3 sheets-shelen 1, l M. RANDOLPH. COMBINED PNEUMATIU G RAIN ELVATDR,GONVBYER, AND CLEANER.

Patented May 1, 1883t (NofModel.)

' ssheetsfseefa M. RANDOLPH. 1 GMBINBD PNEUMATIG GRAlN 'ELEVATOR,CONVEYER, AND CLEANER l* Patnted May 1,1883.

-3 Sheets-Sheet 3;

(No Model.)

l Y M. RANDOLPH. y COMBINED PNEUMATYIG GRAIN BLEVATOR, GONVEYBB. ANDCLEANER Patented May O OO OO GO OO O0 OOG@ 0 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

MAHLON RANDOLPIL on NEW YORK, A ssiGNoR OF ONE-HALE TO MAE- GARET A.oAsE, O E BROOKLYN, N. Y.

COMBINED PNEUMATIC GRAIN ELEVATOR,CONVEYER, AND CLEANER.

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,879, dated May 1,1883. A I'ipncanon inea July 18,1882. (No moe .21.1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAHLON RANDOLPH, of thelcity, county, and State ofNew York,hav.=.

` invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Pneumatic GrainElevator, Couv'eyer, and Cleaner, of which the following is a full andclear description.

This invention has for its object the construction of a grain-elevator,or machine for moving grain iu a vertical or horizontal direction bypneumatic pressure, the grain tobe moved into and out ot' an air-tightreceiver and weighing-hopper through air-tight pipes or tubes,.and'formoving the grain as requiredV both' compressed air and exhausted orpartiallyrexhausted receivers are used, so as to utilize' botha-vacnumprossure aud a Vforced pressure. Y

The invention relates to the construction and combination of theair-tight receiver and the weighing-hopper; also to the combined grainand air exhausting and forcing pipes and the machines forroperatingthem; also to au injector for producing an induced auxiliary 'current inthe grain-receiving pipe; and also to exhausting-chambers respectivelyrplaced at'the top end of the lilt and forcing pipe for elevating thegrain to the top ofa building or other elevation, and at the dischargingend of the shipping-pipe.

The invention will be readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, Fig-` ure 1 of which represents a sectionalelevation of the complete improved apparatus., Fig. 2

is a detail sectional elevation ont' the receiver, weighinghopper, anddischargepipe,with the connecting-diaphragme and the compressedair pipe.Fig. 3 is a sectional plan ot' thccounection between tho weighing-hopperaud'the receiver, showin gthe diaphragm. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan ofthe connection' between the Y weighing-hopper and the outlet-pipe,showing l of the receiving-pipe.

the diaphragm. Figr is a sectional plan of the compressed-air pipe andthe connection withthe grain-forcing pipe. Fig. `6 is a sectionalelevation of the injector in the outer end Figs. 7 and 8 arc srctionalplans ot' the said injector,taken respectively on the dottedliues' shownin Fig. 6, and

numbcredorlleiter'ed respectively Fig. 7 andv Fig. 8. Fig. 9 is asectional elevation of the receiver and cleaner at the top of therisertional plans of the said outlet-nozzle.

The structure A represents asectioual elevation of a portion ot' anordinary grain-warehouseor elevator'building in which the iuiprovedpneumatic apparatus is applied. VThis building, like all similarstructures, has storage-bins A', into which the grain is elevated bysuitable machinery, so as to fall into the tops of the bins, and thelower ends of these bins are provided with hopper-bottomsa, so as topermit all the graiuto run out through the central discharge-openings,a,wheu the valves a2 are opened.

y A suitable connecting-pipe (not shown) will lead the. grain from theopening a. lto the top ofthe receiver C, the grain having to passthrough the Weighing-hopper in going out of Vthe house, as well as iucoming into it.

The grain is received into the building from Aany contiguous source-suchas a boat, railway-car, wagon, or other receptaclethrough thereceiving-pipe B, which discharges it into the airtight or nearlyairtight receiver C, which is provided with a. hopper-bottom, c. Auexhaustair pipe, D, connects the hopper or receiver C with anair-exhaustcr, E, located at any. convenient place, preferably in theeingine-room, and exhausts the air from the said receiver U, so as toform a partial vacuum therein. Both the inlet grain-pipe-B 'and theexhaust-pipe D descend to the top of the hopper or receiver C in `avertical direction, as shown in the drawings, so as to discharge thegrain downwardly from the outlet of thepipe B and draw the air upwardlyor in an opposite direction from that in which'the grain is moving, soas not to draw the grain out tot C with the outgoing current of airthrough D. A perforated diaphragm may, if-required, he

placed over the inlet end ot the pipe D to prevent any outtlowfo't' thegrain from the receiver'C.

An ,aircompressoig F, is placed in any .convenieut position, butpreferably in ory near the We T,

in the manner already explained.

engine-room, as it is the purpose not to use any ruiming macninery inthe elevator-building proper, so as to thoroughly obviate danger bytire. This compressor may force its air into a storage-receiver, ordirectly intov the compressed-air pipes (i 'and G. j The comi pressedairpipe G is used in connection with the grain-receiving pipe 13, an'dthese two pipes wiltpreferably lie side by side for some distance towardor into the building from the outer end, and secured together by properbands i), so that the two maybe united into one switch, B2 G2, united bybands b2, for the purpose of changing at will the connection to or fromany desired source of supply or receipt, as a boat or a car, de.

The switch-pipes B3 G2 are arranged so as to respectively form air-tightconnections at both ends'w'ith the contiguous pipes B and G. The outersections, B3 and G, of these pipes are made of some tiexble material,yet of sufficient rigidity to enable them to maintain their cylindricali'orm, similar to the suction-hose used for reengines. At the extremeouter end of the pipes and G3 tl'ey will be attached to an inlet orinjector, This injector has at its upper end twc'chambers, hand i,asshown in liig. (i. The chamber h forms the grain Way or pipe, andextends entirely through the injccto-shell from end to end, but thechamber h leads into and terminates in an airchamber, h3, which connectswith the chamher h. From this air-chamber h2 one or more pipes ornozzles, h3, lead up into the cavity ot" the chamber h, the axial linesof the nozzles h3 being in planes parallel with the axial line of thecham ber h, so as to discharge compressed air received from thecompressor F, through the pipes G, G2, and G3, up into the pipes R152,and B3 in the direction in which the grain is required to move into thereceiver C.

1n lieu ot' vthe separate pipes or nozzles h3, the air may be dischargedinto the grain-chamber h in an annular sheet surrounding thegrain-chamber and next to the walls forming its sides, the annular sheetof air being an equivalent for several separate, air-pipes located inannular form .and in eiect forming one annular blast. This will createin said pipe an induced current and carry the grain along with itintolthe. receiver C, a partial vacuum being at the same time maintained inthe said receiverby the action oi' the exhaust-crE rthe combined actionoi' this injector and the cxhanster will causea continuous stream ofgrain to ilow into the receiver C so longas the mouth of' the injectoris placed in contact with or contiguous to the grain to be moved, and asthc pipes B3 G3 are oziblc, one or two men can easily carry the injectend oi them aronn d to all parts of a car or boat and take up perfectly'any 'grain therein contained. 1 l* Itis evident 'that it would bepossible to.

produce an induced current in the pipe 15" by the use of only one o?"the injector-nozzles h3;

erases weigh lthe grain it is evident the hopper I must have a freevertical movement of snilicicnt extent to allow the scales to actproperly for the weighing of the contents of the said hopper. It is alsorequired that the said weighing-hopper shall be connected air-tightlywith the receiver C and the outlet forcing-pipe J, so as to maintain thepneumatic pressure for movingthe graimasdesired.ToaccomplishthisresultIuse thin diaphragmsezand i3 to respectivelycouple the pipe o with the weighinghopper iiauge c7 andthe pipeiwiththepipeJ,as shown best in the detailed drawing, Fig. 2. The diaphragm c3 isheld up to the lower end ofthe pipe c by the plate c3 and the screws c,and it is held down to the end of the Weighinghopper flange ci by theplate c5 and-the screws c6. These parts c c3 and c3 c7 respectivelyclamp the in` ner and outer edges of the diaphragm c3 and constitute itsbearings. These parts are con! structed so as to leaveafree span of oneor two inches (or more, if required) between the bearings c c3 and c5c7, and this free span between the said bearings permits the flange ci,with its attached Weighing-hopper, to rise and fall, as desired, for theweighing operation. n a similar manner the thin diaphragm i2 is attachedto the lower'end of' the pipe 'i by the plate i3, and the screws i4 ofthe forcing-pipe J by the plate jand the screws j', and a free span ot'one or two inches (or more, it' required) is also allowed between thebearings H3 and the bearings Jj for the said diaphragm i2 in a similarmanner to that above described for the dial phragm c2.

The diaphragme c2 and i are to be made ot' some thin tlexible1naterial-such,for instance, as sheet metal or india-rubber. These thindiaphragms, connected, as above described, to the relatively-fixed inletand outlet of the weighing-hopper, and also to the said hopper or itsattachments, will bytheir tlexibility permit the weighing-hopper freevertical play for the purpose of permitting the weighing operation to beconducted undisturbed, and at same time will form, with the otherattached parts, a continuous air-retainer for the proper development ofthe pneumatic action-ot' the machine..

The pipe c', which isattached to the bottom Vof the reservoir (i, has aslide or cut-ott', c",

which is to be moved by a lever from the ont side, so as to open andclose it quickly and at will when it is required to let tlic grain runinto the weighing-hopper or shut itofl" therefrom.y

IIC

5o i t to press on top of the entire mass of thegram essere s ,i

y pressed air (which fills the pipe belowit) from pressing up againstthe grain-slide, so as to interfere with thcwcighing operation. Both ofthese slides should move air-tightly iu their ways, or should ,shutair-tightly` when closed,

' and Ithey should be operated by a single lever,

he as to bc opened and closed simultaneously. 'ihe air-compressor F4drives compressed air through the pipe G into the grain force-pipe d,so as to carry the grain along with it through the said pipe J when thegrain is let fall from the hopper I by the opening of the valves lz .endla.

in order to prevent the air-blast from G', when it tirst enters the,pipe J, from driving the grain agaiust-the sides of the saidpipe J withsuch force-as to injure the grain, I lead `the said pipe G' into thepipeJ by a helical curve, so as to gradually curve the air-current aroundand down into thc pipe J in such a manner as to forni an air cushionbetween the said pipe JlA and its contained moving column of grain. Thisair cushion between the grain and the pipe J will be maintainedthroughout the entire length of the said pipe with more or continuity,and will prevent the attrition ci the grain against the pipe to anyinjurious extent. As thc air forcing-currcnt, driven through the pipe G'into the pipe J, will have a tendency todrivc the grain in the'direction of the line of the least resistance,

.it will be requiredto have the top ot' thehopper l closed air-tightly,so as to prevent the compressed ,airfrom blowingl the grain out at thetop of this hopper, and for the purpose of equalizing the air-pressureat -thc iop and bottom ot' thc grainV in the'weighinghopper I conductthe compressed air from the pipe G info the top ofthe hopper ifabove thegrain therein contained, by means ot'au equilibrium pipe, K, throughvwhich thc compressed air will pass into thc top ot' the weighing hopperand fill the cavity thereof as rapidly as the-grain is drawn out, and bythis construction the compressed air will be allowed in the said hopperwithsuch force as to drive it out and up through the pipe J as soon asthe valves l and l3 are open.

'The pipe J may be conducted any desired distance or direction, and itwill be provided with one or more switch-pipes, J', for the purpose ot'termin g a connection with a bin-pipe, J2, or a shipping or distributingpipe, J3. The

bin-pipe d2 extends -to the topfof the/storage-V bins-prefcrably one ormore pipes to each bin. At the top end otthispipeitcurves downwardly andenters the top ofthe receiver and cleaner L, into which it dischargesthe grain as it is elevated.

This receiver and cleaner has dn. doble hopper-bottom, Zand l', and eachof these has a separate outlet, the outlet l'belonging to the upperbottom, l, and the outlet l3 belonging to the lower bottom,'l'. Thereare two sloping" perforated diaphragme, L'l and L2, set in the receiverL, as shown in detail in Fig. 9..

The upper one of these diaphragms,L', has its perforatious large enoughto permit the grain to pass through them ;"but largc'dirt, sticks. Ste.,will slide down on the top ot this diaphragm and escape through theopenings l* into the lower dirt-chamber, l5, below the daphragm L2.

:Secured to the top of the diaphragm L', imniediately below thedischarge end of the pipe J2, will be a series of deflectors, ZS, formedin the shape of the letter A and placed with their apexes on the medialline and pointing toward the top, while their arms are distendedobliquely downwardly and outwardly, so as to distribute the current ofthe grain over the whole surfacel ot' the diaphragm in order -to securefor cachot' the perforations the proper amount ot grain to be passed.The lower diapbragm, L2, has its perforations made so small as toprohibit the grain from passing through them, but large enough to permitall ot' the dust to go through along with the air which has been drivenup through the piped?. The air and dust thus passed through thediaphragm L2 will mingle iu the chamber 'l5 with thc dirt that haspassed thereto through thc ofthe receiver Lthat is blown into it throughthe pipe J2, so as to form or tend to form a partial vacuum in the saidreceiver, and there t by the column ot' grain passing up throng-h thepipe J2 is drawn up toward the top as well as forced up from the bottomby the action ofthe blast from the compressor F. 'lhe receiver L is isformed air-tight, except the openingstor the inlet-pipe Jzand theoutlet-pipes Fand t3. The

grain which passesdown over the topot tixediapbragm Lzescapes betweenthe chutes linto the grain-outlet chamber Z8, which is the space between the hoppenbottoms l and l', whence it escapes through the outletZ3 into the bin A. The chutes l4 are A-shaped in plan, and placed withtheir apeXes toward the top, so as to permit the grain to pass betweenthem without lodging on them. Small inclines will be constructed on topot' the diaphragm L', so as to turn all ot' thc'refu'se from thc top ofthis diaphragm into these chutes. I y

, The diaphragme L' and L't abovedeseribed ISO may be fixed in thereceiver L, so as to form a part ot' it; or they may be connected withsuitable machinery, so as to be agitated,if required, so asto-facilitate the cleaning opera-l tion.'

The number ct' the diaphragms may readily be increased, if'required, torany specific pur pose; or there may' be only the lower diaphragm,L2,used it' the cleaning be not further required. in this case thccleansing or removing theiine dust will be incidentally accomplished,the exhaust-blast through the pert'orations ot' the diaphragm L2 andthence down through the exhaust-pipe D and exhauster E being requiredfor thc elevating process, the object being to lessen the pressure inthe said receiver L below the normal atmospheric pressure in order tofacilitate the lifting ot' the grain through the riser-pipe J2.

When it is required yto movethe grain through the pipe Ji anyconsiderable distarice longitudinally-as for shipping purposes-atlischargingexbausterM will be uscd,and connected by means ot' thecxhaust'pipe N with a discharger, (J, with which, also, the said pipeJ:s will be connected. This discharger O con sists ot' two parallelchambers, 0 and O', united together at their bottom ends bythe cazrvc'O.An inclined perforated diaphragm, ift-'1, placed. across the grain-pipeJ, tlctiects the current ol' grain aside into the outletchute 0*, whilethe air will' largely pass on through the perforations ot' the saiddiaphragm O, and return in the air-passage o in the direction ofthearrows c5, and be thence drawn out through the exhaust-pipe N andexpelled through the exhauster M. By means ot' this alrangcment apartial vacuum is produced in thelower end ot' the outlet-pipe J3, andthe compressed air from the compressor F rcmoved from the pipe Jjustbetere it reaches the grain-outlet, and the combined action of theexhaust and force blasts are thus'blondcd together' for the economicaland rapid move. ment ofthe grain.

The machine constructed as described operates in the following manner: Apartial vacuum is created in the closed receiver C by the action of theexhauster E, and this partial vacuum, together with the induced currentfrom the injector H, will cause the grain to tlow into the said receiverC in a rapid and strong current from any contiguous source of supply-as,for instance, a Wagon, a railwayear, or a vessel. The receiver (-lshouldbe large enough to permit the tiow` ot' grain into it to be continuousuntil the boat or oar could be emptied, and for this purpose it shouldbe considerably1 larger than the weighing-hopper, as the action ot theweighing-hopper or tbc discharge ot' grain from it must necessarily beintermittent. (lne. charge of the weighinghopper must be weighed anddischarged betore another t-.itar'ge can bc let in t'routthe receiverlfrom the weighing-hopper the gratuis discharged through' theoutlet-pipe J princiessere pally by` the action ot' the forced pressurefrom the compressor F, though this may be aided somewhat for long orhigh distances by means ofthe partial vacuum created at the outlet andof the pipe J, in the'manner fully described in the foregoingspecification.

Although the machine above described has been alluded to only as a grainelevator and conveyer, it is obvious itmay be used forother purposes-as,for instance, the excavation and removal of sand, either for dry c rsubaquatic excavation, with only such moditications as would tit it forsuoli work, no weighing-hopper or cleaning mechanism being required forsuch other Work.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The process ot' moving graininto a closed receiver by means ot' a partial vacuum formed in saidreceiver, and a combined current nt compressed air injected into thegrain-receiving pipe.

2. An airtight weighing-hopper, in combination with and respectivelyattached to. an air-tight receiver and a discharge-pipe by meansof'tlexible attachments, so as t0 preserve the continuity of thelair-passages, and

at the same time permit the weighing-hopper free vertical play.

3. The injector H, having one or more nozzes, It, in combination withthe grain-receiving pipe B B3 and. the compressedair pipe (-r G3.

4. The receiver C and the weighing-hopper l, with their connecting-pipec', and thcweighinghopper flange c7 and the interposed iiexi blediaphragm c2, combined together substantially as and for the purpose sett'orth.

n. The weighing-bowel I, the dischargepipe J, and the connecting-pipe i,and the interposed ileXible diaphragm i2, combined togcthcrsubstantially as and tor the purpose set forth.

t. 'lhc compressedair pipe G, constructed with a helical curve forblending it with the grain torce-pipe J in a manner to'graduallysurround and propel the column of gratn'withi`n the pipe J.

7. The twin slides or cut-ots l2 and 13, in combination with thewcighinghopper I and the pipes i and J, as and t'or the purpose de.-scribed.

8. Theweighing-hopperI and the pipcsGt,1`,

IOC.

grain-forcing pipe J J2 and the air-compress a'ndfl." ithc .dirt-chutesliitbe dirt-chamber 5-, and the gran-chamber ZG, hopper-bottoms Zand l',and outlets l2 and la, constructed and arranged as and for the purposeset forth.

12. The receiver L, the weighing-hopper I, 5 the exhauster E, andair-compressor F, with their respective pipes J J2, D D, and GG',combined and arranged as and for the purpos'e set forth. 13. Thedischarger O, combined with the 1o grain-discharging pipe J 3 and theair-exhauster M, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

let air-chambers0 and O, connected together 14. The dscharger 0, havinginlet and 'outby a. curved coupling, O2, and provided with al V154perforated diaphragm, 03, for separating the grain from the air anddischarging thefgrain through the chute O4, substantial-Iy as de'scribed and set forth. t

5. The Weighingfhopper I, the gminpipee zo J and J3, the compressed-airvpipes G and G', the discharger O, the pipe N, and the @x1 haster M,combined together as'acd for the purpose set forth. p

MAHLON RANDOLPH. Witnesses: t

*PHILIP E. RAQU,

R. RosENsfrooK.

